Free speech is not a partisan issue. We need to stress that students should be expected to hear ideas they disagree with — even ideas that cut them to their core. Canceling or censoring speech because it makes people uncomfortable is not the answer.
Passion expressed on a campus, as long as it remains free from threats, discrimination, or harassment, should be considered protected speech, especially when it concerns diplomatic, political, historical, or policy-related beliefs. This principle of free speech should apply equitably to everyone — ensuring that all voices have the same right to be heard, even when we don't like what's being said.
Steel has to be heated, hammered, and tempered to become strong. In the same way, our job is to prepare students to face speech they dislike in order to develop the strength and resilience needed for real-world success.
I grew up in Cleveland in the 70s and 80s, which had quite a few steel workers. Steel is a really interesting metal. To become strong and durable, it has to be heated, hammered, and tempered. This process of repeated exposure to stress makes it resilient. Our students need the same preparation.
Attorney. Chief Diversity Officer. Author of Humanity at Work (#1 Amazon Bestseller). Member of Heterodox Academy and Advisory Board of Class Action. Member of Chief. Speaker on civic discourse, viewpoint diversity, and the future of inclusion. Follow on X →
Views expressed are her own and do not represent any employer or institution.